The dad of a mum who was killed by her depressed estranged husband said he was overwhelmed with joy when his family went to collect her posthumous university degree and the room erupted into applause.

Martin Paton said collecting the honour in the name of their daughter Claire Nagle alongside his wife Joy was "one of the best moments of his life".

They were at the University of Nottingham where they were given the degree certificate in mental health nursing for their daughter who died last December.

An inquest this week ruled Mrs Nagle was strangled by husband Vincent who went on to brutally attack her son and take his own life by throwing himself off a bridge on the M1.

Claire Nagle died a week before Christmas last year

Mr Paton said: "It was one of the most moving things I have ever seen in my life. We were the last to go up and collect the honour in front of a huge number of people. We walked across the stage and all of a sudden everybody started clapping and cheering. It was amazing. An unbelievable feeling. It was one of the best moments of my life, it was surreal.

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"I had tears in my eyes. I was overwhelmed with joy. We're so proud of her, it's so special. We want to say a huge thank you to the university. It has been a very nice end to a very difficult week."

Mr Paton said the response showed how popular his daughter was. He said: "She was loved by so many people and to see that today was amazing. This will be the second Christmas without her. There's still such a big part of our lives missing and I expect there always will be. We're relieved that this week has finished and the inquest has finished. We want to now try and get our lives back together."

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Derbyshire Coroners’ Court was told on Wednesday that Mr Nagle was depressed and just days before his violent spree police had been contacted about his behaviour.

Weeks before his death, he had told doctors at Moir Medical Centre, Regent Street, Long Eaton, he was suffering from the hearing problem, tinnitus, was struggling with work and having relationship problems. However, he refused the offer of counselling and anti-depressants.

Mr and Mrs Nagle were living apart at the time of her death after the relationship had broken down. Coroner Louise Pinder said Mr Nagle strangled at her home in Charnwood Avenue before attacking his step-son Nathan at his home in Station Road.